Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A good Great War minesweeping operations D.S.M. group of eight awarded to Petty Officer D. E. Sexton, Royal Navy

Distinguished Service Medal, G.V.R. (J. 873 D. E. Sexton, P.O., “Foxglove”, Minesweeping 1917); 1914-15 Star (J. 873 D. E. Sexton, A.B., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (J. 873 D. E. Sexton, P.O., R.N.); Defence and War Medals; Royal Navy L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 2nd issue (J. 873 D. E. Sexton, P.O., H.M.S. Centaur); Imperial Service Medal, E.II.R. (Douglas Edward Sexton), all but the last mounted as worn, contact marks, edge bruising and polished, good fine and better, the last extremely fine (8) £800-1000

D.S.M. London Gazette 17 April 1918:

‘In recognition of their services in minesweeping operations between 1 April and 31 December 1917.’

Douglas Edward Sexton was born in Sheppey, Kent in September 1892 and entered the Royal Navy as a Boy 2nd Class in February 1908. An Able Seaman serving at Portsmouth Dockyard on the outbreak of hostilities, he joined the sloop H.M.S. Foxglove in April 1915, in which capacity he remained actively employed until June 1918, gaining advancement to Petty Officer in February of the previous year - so, too, his D.S.M., for minesweeping operations in the period April to December.

Remaining in the Royal Navy after the War, Sexton was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in September 1925 and was advanced to Chief Petty Officer in December 1926. His subsequent award of the Imperial Service Medal was in respect of services as a Motor Driver at H.M. Naval Base, Portland (London Gazette 20 December 1957 refers).